264
with environmental problems as if those were
independent of increasing connectivity. However,
anthropogenic effects on the global Earth system
will not remain without responses. Indeed, as it is
a chaotic system, small effects could cause big
changes (butterfly effect). Production, transport
of products (even to distances of 10,000–
20,000 km) and their distribution (trade) and then
their consumption require material and energy
transformation resulting in increased environmental effects depending on the demands of people with increasing number and desires. The
consequences of these effects are known in part
but surprise may still catch us due to the incalculableness of the behaviour of the system.
Therefore it is worth applying the well-known
principle of “precaution” in the course of anthropogenic material and energy transformation
procedures.
Basic human activities like production and
consumption could be regulated using several
methods. A growing number of economists urge
the spreading of parameters that take into account
not only the total value of production, the quantity of produced goods, and net profit in the case
of entrepreneurs but are based on the life-cycle
analysis of products and take into account damage caused in the environment in the course of
production and transportation as well. Disposal
of waste left after consuming a given product also
has to be calculated with. The theory of circular
economy and its application in practice spread
slowly. Controlling production and consumption
with economic methods could be more effective
than direct regulation by law therefore its expansion as widely as possible—globally if possible—is justified.
Widespread supply chains made mutual
dependence even among former enemy countries, and making connectivity a serious hindrance of major wars. In a world where
transnational companies seated in Europe open
branches in China while a series of Chinese
seated companies also open branches in Europe
and Africa, and trade chains cover the continents
no one is interested in triggering a war destroying
everything. The question is what the tension
strength of this complex connectivity based on
international division of labour formed in the
twenty-first century will be like in case the degree
of environmental change is to be as high as a
global mean temperature rise of 4 °C can cause
and the regional consequences of which have
been described in Sect. 6.5. Will global social
connectivity survive if countries enjoying the few
advantages of climate change have to receive
hundreds of millions of climate refugees? Will
connectivity be able to solve the problem of poverty in the world? Will it change the process of
“rich become richer”? Indeed, is there the willingness in decision makers to succeed with a
more even global distribution of material goods?
And if they have the intention will they be able to
make joint, harmonised steps? When will the
well-being of humans enter the focus of decision
makers, i.e. providing a healthy environment for
and meeting the basic needs of all people? When
will human well-being become a priority for
decision makers?
Some experts believe that one condition for
sustainable development is the more effective use
of local natural resources (material and energy)
instead of supply change development and the
transportation of products over large distances.
(This concept appears on several pages of this
book.) One option for the poorest people is ecological farming where enough land is available.
True enough, that goods produced in this way are
only enough for self-sustenance and maybe for
selling in the local market. Another way for
utilising local resources is producing folk art
products reflecting the traditions of the given culture. Their touristic sale could be an appropriate
source of income in many places.
Intensive large-scale agricultural production,
however, will still be required by supplying the
expected population of 10 billion people.
Regarding this, precision farming could be and
should be combined with the principles and practical methods of ecological farming in order to
make production sustainable in the long term.
Demographic processes, family planning programmes of poor and overpopulated countries
should be studied again in more detail. With completely uncontrolled demographic processes the
human population could increase over 11 billion
7 Conclusions: Towards an Environmental Friendly Humane Society
with environmental problems as if those were
independent of increasing connectivity. However,
anthropogenic effects on the global Earth system
will not remain without responses. Indeed, as it is
a chaotic system, small effects could cause big
changes (butterfly effect). Production, transport
of products (even to distances of 10,000–
20,000 km) and their distribution (trade) and then
their consumption require material and energy
transformation resulting in increased environmental effects depending on the demands of people with increasing number and desires. The
consequences of these effects are known in part
but surprise may still catch us due to the incalculableness of the behaviour of the system.
Therefore it is worth applying the well-known
principle of “precaution” in the course of anthropogenic material and energy transformation
procedures.
Basic human activities like production and
consumption could be regulated using several
methods. A growing number of economists urge
the spreading of parameters that take into account
not only the total value of production, the quantity of produced goods, and net profit in the case
of entrepreneurs but are based on the life-cycle
analysis of products and take into account damage caused in the environment in the course of
production and transportation as well. Disposal
of waste left after consuming a given product also
has to be calculated with. The theory of circular
economy and its application in practice spread
slowly. Controlling production and consumption
with economic methods could be more effective
than direct regulation by law therefore its expansion as widely as possible—globally if possible—is justified.
Widespread supply chains made mutual
dependence even among former enemy countries, and making connectivity a serious hindrance of major wars. In a world where
transnational companies seated in Europe open
branches in China while a series of Chinese
seated companies also open branches in Europe
and Africa, and trade chains cover the continents
no one is interested in triggering a war destroying
everything. The question is what the tension
strength of this complex connectivity based on
international division of labour formed in the
twenty-first century will be like in case the degree
of environmental change is to be as high as a
global mean temperature rise of 4 °C can cause
and the regional consequences of which have
been described in Sect. 6.5. Will global social
connectivity survive if countries enjoying the few
advantages of climate change have to receive
hundreds of millions of climate refugees? Will
connectivity be able to solve the problem of poverty in the world? Will it change the process of
“rich become richer”? Indeed, is there the willingness in decision makers to succeed with a
more even global distribution of material goods?
And if they have the intention will they be able to
make joint, harmonised steps? When will the
well-being of humans enter the focus of decision
makers, i.e. providing a healthy environment for
and meeting the basic needs of all people? When
will human well-being become a priority for
decision makers?
Some experts believe that one condition for
sustainable development is the more effective use
of local natural resources (material and energy)
instead of supply change development and the
transportation of products over large distances.
(This concept appears on several pages of this
book.) One option for the poorest people is ecological farming where enough land is available.
True enough, that goods produced in this way are
only enough for self-sustenance and maybe for
selling in the local market. Another way for
utilising local resources is producing folk art
products reflecting the traditions of the given culture. Their touristic sale could be an appropriate
source of income in many places.
Intensive large-scale agricultural production,
however, will still be required by supplying the
expected population of 10 billion people.
Regarding this, precision farming could be and
should be combined with the principles and practical methods of ecological farming in order to
make production sustainable in the long term.
Demographic processes, family planning programmes of poor and overpopulated countries
should be studied again in more detail. With completely uncontrolled demographic processes the
human population could increase over 11 billion
7 Conclusions: Towards an Environmental Friendly Humane Society